THE justification for Derwenthorpe is that it will provide affordable housing (Cheap homes pledge for York, May 12).

Does this sound affordable to you? Despite receiving millions of pounds of taxpayers' money in subsidy, and the development site being purchased from the council at a reduced price, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation says 65 per cent of the houses will be for sale and the average price will be £163,000.

For those not able to afford this, don't be disheartened. If you can't afford a property at full price, some are available at half share at an average price of £74,000; but you will have to pay rent on the other half (and so you may as well be paying a full mortgage).

Only ten per cent of the homes are to be for rent, but no doubt landlords will come along and buy up most of these unaffordable homes to rent them out.

Finally, can we stop referring to Derwenthorpe as a village nestled between the lovely village of Tang Hall and the quaint village of Osbaldwick?

No matter how the council tries to dress it up, it is just an extension of the Tang Hall housing estate.

A Wilson,

Grasmere Drive, York.

Updated: 10:53 Tuesday, May 18, 2004